Sunil Gavaskar scored a brilliant century as India almost came close to securing a world record win at The Oval against England but they ended up just short as the match ended in a draw.
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They needed 49 in just 46 balls in a chase of 438. This was not an ODI but a Test match. It was not in the modern era but in the late 70s, at a time when the world was just getting used to the new concept of ODIs. Sunil Gavaskar, India’s ultimate batsman of that period, had played one of the greatest Test knocks of all time. Gavaskar hit a double century in the fourth innings and had almost gotten India close to the cusp of glory.
But, when Gavaskar fell, India’s chances of a win evaporated. It was a case of so near yet so far. But, the knock by Sunil Gavaskar and India’s spirit in the chase of 438 was one of the finest moments in the history of Indian cricket. The knock by Gavaskar ensured that India had at least gotten out of England’s shores on a high after an eight-year period that saw them sink to their lowest ebb.
After India won a Test series for the first time in England in 1971, the glory days had arrived. The win at The Oval, thanks to the bowling efforts of leg-spinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar resulted in a proud moment for Indian cricket. But, the glory was short-lived. When India returned to England in 1974, they were whitewashed 3-0 which included a low of 42 in the Lord’s Test. India arrived in the 1975 World Cup and they did not make a mark, winning just one game against East Africa. India returned in 1979 but they suffered the humiliation of losing to Sri Lanka, who at that time was an Associate Nation.
For Sunil Gavaskar, the backdrop of the Oval Test had a story of redemption. In 1974, he had hit a century and averaged 36. But, in the 1975 World Cup, he made the news for all the wrong reasons when he hit 36 off 174 balls in an ODI. The knock earned him universal condemnation. The 1979 World Cup campaign was marred by team unrest under the captaincy of Srinivas Venkataraghavan. Heading into the Tests, the discord remained.
In the first Test in Edgbaston, Geoffrey Boycott and David Gower hammered the Indian bowling to all parts. Boycott hit 155 and Gower smashed 200 as England ended on 633/5 declared. Gavaskar was run out for 61 but India ended on 297. England enforced the follow-on. Gavaskar hit another fifty but England was too good on their day, with Ian Botham taking 5/70 and Mike Hendrick chipping in with 4. The hosts won by an innings and 83 runs to take a 1-0 lead. The Lord’s Test saw India being bowled out for 96, with Ian Botham taking 5/35. It was a repeat of 1974, with England notching up 419/9 declared with all batsmen chipping in. However, Dilip Vengsarkar saved India and played a stellar knock to hit a century. Gundappa Viswanath was in fine form with a century as India saved the Lord’s Test by hitting 318/4.
The Leeds Test saw two days washed out due to rain but once again Botham showed his class. He hit a century but England was bowled out for 270. India managed 223/6 but heading into the Oval Test, India still had a chance of leveling the series. England chose to bat and Graham Gooch’s 79 helped the hosts reach 305. Botham once again showed his class with 4/65 and despite Viswanath’s 65, India conceded a lead of 103. Boycott hit a century and England declared on 334/8, giving India a near-impossible target of 438.
The highest successful run-chase in Test cricket at that time was 406 by India against West Indies in Port of Spain in 1976. During the tour of Australia in 1977, India had fallen just short in their world record chase of 492 in Adelaide. India was bowled out for 445. When the series was up for grabs, India did put on an exhibition of batting that nearly got them over the line.
At The Oval, the situation was similar. India needed 438 to ensure they ended the series 1-1. Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan smashed 76 until the end of day four. Heading into the final day, India needed a further 362 runs. Gavaskar apparently remarked that the pitch was so good that India could chase this total down. On day 5, India had signaled their intent. The opening duo of Gavaskar and Chauhan notched up 213, with Gavaskar playing aggressively.
When Chauhan fell for 80, Vengsarkar arrived and India continued to attack. By tea on the final day, India was 304/1, needing 134 more to win. Gavaskar had already notched up a century and many were starting to believe that India could achieve the impossible.
England tried to slow the over-rate but Gavaskar and Vengsarkar were in the zone. Gavaskar notched up a brilliant double ton and in the final hour, India needed 76 runs in 72 balls. But, when Vengsarkar fell, two major incidents happened. Venkataraghavan, who panicked at the prospect of a collapse, did not send Viswanath. Yashpal Sharma was in fine form but the pressure was mounting.
The second incident was when Gavaskar decided to take a mini drinks break. That resulted in a lapse of concentration and allowed England to formulate some plans. Botham was introduced into the attack and he got rid of Gavaskar for 221. That signaled the end of the chase. England was starting to make inroads but India held on. They needed 15 runs in the final over but they could manage only six. Gavaskar’s epic had not helped India cross the line.
Had India chased this total down, Gavaskar’s knock of 221 would have been the greatest batting exhibition in the history of cricket. It was a heartbreaking way for such a fabulous knock to end. But, India ended the tour on a high and this paved the way for their triumphant return four years later when they won the 1983 World Cup.
